M. S. Gopalakrishnan

Gopalakrishnan was born in Mylapore, Chennai, India, and was taught violin by his father, Parur Sundaram Iyer, who was well versed in both Carnatic and Hindustani systems of Indian classical music.

He played the violin for over fifty years as a soloist and accompanist, having accompanied Omkarnath Thakur and D. V. Paluskar, and toured Australia, the US, the UK, the Netherlands, South Africa, Malaysia, and Hong Kong.

The family's violin playing style, known as ‘Parur bani’, is being kept alive by the third generation, the children of Anantharaman and of MSG.

[3] Gopalakrishnan had researched playing technique, and developed particular fingering and bowing disciplines of the "Parur style" to produce a clarity of sound and speed of delivery.

[clarification needed] Violinist Yehudi Menuhin said of Gopalakrishnan's playing: "I have not heard such violin in all my travels!